We work with the community to promote the sustainable management and protection of Taranaki's natural resources.
The purpose of a resource consent is to manage and put controls around activities that may have an effect on the environment. Consent must meet the requirements of:
- Resource Management Act 1991 (external link)(external link)
- National Policy Statements (external link)(external link)
- National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry 2017 (external link)(external link)
- National Environmental Standards for Air Quality 2004 (external link)(external link)
- National Environmental Standards for Sources of Drinking Water 2007 (external link)(external link)
- National Environmental Standards for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health 2011 (external link)(external link)
- National Environmental Standards for Freshwater 2020 (external link)(external link)
- Regional Freshwater Plan [PDF, 21 MB](external link)
- Regional Air Quality Plan [PDF, 1.2 MB](external link)
- Regional Soil Plan [PDF, 3.2 MB](external link)
- Regional Coastal Plan [PDF, 3.7 MB](external link)
We provide advice and information to resource users and take part in consent decision appeals and objections to provide a regional perspective on acceptable environmental outcomes.
You need to apply for a resource consent if you wish to do something that is not permitted by district or regional plans or wish to use significant amounts of water.
Finding consents across Taranaki
Use our mapping tool (external link)(external link) to locate consents across the region.
Fast-Track Approvals Act
The Fast-track Approvals Act(external link) establishes a permanent fast track approvals regime for a range of infrastructure, housing and development projects. Under this Act, applicants with eligible projects can apply to bypass the normal resource consent process. Final decisions on projects will be made by an expert panel.
The Act has been in force since 23 December 2024.
More information on fast-track projects and the process can be found on the government website www.fasttrack.govt.nz(external link)
This Act builds on the fast-track consenting process which was introduced under the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020(external link) (which has since been repealed and no further project applications can be lodged) as well as the fast-track consenting process for some infrastructure and housing projects under the Natural and Built Environment Act 2023(external link).
If you have applied for a project to be considered through a fast-track process or intend to, we encourage you to start pre-application engagement with us as early as possible. Email consents@trc.govt.nz to begin this process.